iPhone 14 Plus vs iPhone 12 – Check Which One Is Best & Why?

iPhone 12 & iPhone 14 Plus share many similarities, but there are also important differences, such as quality, performance, features, design, and connectivity. If you want the best one between them, I Would recommend the iPhone 14 Plus rather than the iPhone 12

Why Do I Recommend The iPhone 14 Plus

  • The iPhone 14 Plus comes with a 6.7-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display for a more immersive viewing experience, while the iPhone 12 has a smaller 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display.
  • iPhone 14 Plus features the A15 Bionic chip with a 5-core GPU for smoother multitasking and stronger graphics performance in demanding apps, whereas the iPhone 12 uses the older A14 Bionic chip with a 4-core GPU.
  • It includes a 4325 mAh battery for up to 26 hours of video playback and extended usage during travel, while the iPhone 12 has a smaller 2815 mAh battery lasting up to 17 hours.
  • The iPhone 14 Plus has a dual 12 MP rear camera system enhanced with the Photonic Engine for brighter and clearer low-light photos, whereas the iPhone 12 has a dual 12 MP system without the Photonic Engine.
  • iPhone 14 Plus comes with a 12 MP front camera with autofocus for sharper selfies and group shots at varying distances, while the iPhone 12 has a 12 MP front camera with fixed focus.
  • It supports Action Mode for smoother video stabilization during fast motion recording, whereas the iPhone 12 does not include Action Mode.
  • The iPhone 14 Plus features Crash Detection and Emergency SOS via Satellite for added safety during car accidents and when outside cellular coverage, while the iPhone 12 does not support these emergency features.
  • iPhone 14 Plus has Bluetooth 5.3 and a Qualcomm X65 modem for more efficient 5G connectivity and lower power consumption, compared to the iPhone 12 which has Bluetooth 5.0 and the older Qualcomm X55 modem.

Maybe the iPhone 12 price can make you comfortable because it’s a little bit cheaper than the iPhone 14 Plus. But you have to compromise all the above-mentioned features. Now the Decision is Yours. I hope it was helpful to choose the right one.

Side By Side Comparison

FeatureiPhone 14 PlusiPhone 12
Display Size6.7-inch Super Retina XDR OLED6.1-inch Super Retina XDR OLED
Resolution2778 × 1284 pixels (~458 ppi)2532 × 1170 pixels (~460 ppi)
Typical Brightness800 nits625 nits
ProcessorA15 Bionic (5-core GPU)A14 Bionic (4-core GPU)
RAM6 GB4 GB
Storage Options128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB64 GB, 128 GB, 256 GB
Battery Capacity~4325 mAh~2815 mAh
Video PlaybackUp to 26 hoursUp to 17 hours
Weight203 g164 g
Dimensions160.8 × 78.1 × 7.8 mm146.7 × 71.5 × 7.4 mm
Front Camera12 MP with autofocus12 MP fixed focus
Rear CameraDual 12 MP with Photonic Engine, Cinematic Mode, Action ModeDual 12 MP without those features
Connectivity5G modem X65, Bluetooth 5.35G modem X55, Bluetooth 5.0
Safety FeaturesCrash Detection, Emergency SOS via SatelliteNot available
SIM SupportDual eSIM (US) + nano-SIM/eSIM in other regionsNano-SIM + eSIM
ChargingMagSafe + Qi + Qi2MagSafe + Qi
PriceCheck iPhone 14 Plus PriceCheck iPhone 12 Price

What Common Both Can Do?

  • Display Technology: Both iPhone 14 Plus and iPhone 12 use Super Retina XDR OLED panels, delivering deep blacks and high contrast for immersive visuals.
  • HDR Support: Both models support HDR10 and Dolby Vision, ensuring vivid colors and cinematic-quality playback for supported videos.
  • Screen Refresh Rate: Each model uses a 60 Hz refresh rate, providing a consistent but standard scrolling and gaming experience compared to ProMotion displays.
  • True Tone: Both include True Tone technology, which automatically adjusts white balance to match ambient lighting for more natural viewing.
  • Wide Color (P3): Each display supports the P3 wide color gamut, giving users more accurate and vibrant color reproduction.
  • Contrast Ratio: Both share a 2,000,000:1 contrast ratio, allowing dark scenes to appear truly black and bright elements to pop.
  • Water Resistance: Both phones are rated IP68, meaning they can withstand submersion in up to 6 meters of water for 30 minutes.
  • Rear Camera Resolution: Each has a dual 12 MP system with wide and ultra-wide lenses, suitable for standard and expansive photography.
  • Night Mode: Both support Night Mode on all cameras, enabling low-light photos with greater clarity and reduced noise.
  • Deep Fusion: Each phone uses Deep Fusion computational photography for improved detail and texture in medium to low-light shots.
  • Smart HDR: Both devices utilize Smart HDR technology, intelligently balancing highlights and shadows for more realistic images.
  • Optical Zoom Range: Both support 2x optical zoom out, letting users capture wide-angle shots without digital loss.
  • Digital Zoom Range: Each allows digital zoom up to 5x, letting users get closer to subjects though with some quality trade-offs.
  • Video Recording Resolution: Both can record video in up to 4K at 60fps, providing professional-grade video capture.
  • Slow Motion Video: Each supports 1080p slow-motion video at 120fps or 240fps for smooth action shots.

Common Features

FeatureiPhone 14 PlusiPhone 12
Display TechnologySuper Retina XDR OLEDSuper Retina XDR OLED
HDR SupportHDR10, Dolby VisionHDR10, Dolby Vision
Screen Refresh Rate60 Hz60 Hz
True ToneSupportedSupported
Wide Color (P3)SupportedSupported
Contrast Ratio2,000,000:12,000,000:1
Water ResistanceIP68 (up to 6m for 30 min)IP68 (up to 6m for 30 min)
Rear Camera Resolution12 MP (wide + ultra-wide)12 MP (wide + ultra-wide)
Night ModeAvailable on all camerasAvailable on all cameras
Deep FusionSupportedSupported
Smart HDRSmart HDR 4Smart HDR 3
Optical Zoom Range2x2x
Digital Zoom RangeUp to 5xUp to 5x
Video Recording ResolutionUp to 4K at 60fpsUp to 4K at 60fps
Slow Motion Video1080p at 120/240fps1080p at 120/240fps
Front Camera Resolution12 MP TrueDepth Camera12 MP TrueDepth Camera
Face IDSupportedSupported
MagSafeSupportedSupported
Price Check iPhone 14 Plus Price Check iPhone 12 Price

FAQ

Does the iPhone 14 Plus have a bigger screen than the iPhone 12?
Yes, the iPhone 14 Plus has a 6.7-inch display, making it significantly larger than the 6.1-inch display of the iPhone 12, which provides more screen space for gaming, movies, and multitasking.

Is the display brightness different between iPhone 14 Plus and iPhone 12?
Yes, the iPhone 14 Plus has higher typical brightness at 800 nits, compared to the iPhone 12’s 625 nits, which makes the 14 Plus easier to use outdoors in direct sunlight.

Do both the iPhone 14 Plus and iPhone 12 use OLED displays?
Yes, both devices feature Super Retina XDR OLED panels with HDR10 and Dolby Vision, ensuring deep blacks, high contrast, and vivid color reproduction.

Which phone has better performance, iPhone 14 Plus or iPhone 12?
The iPhone 14 Plus outperforms the iPhone 12 thanks to its A15 Bionic chip with a 5-core GPU and 6 GB of RAM, while the iPhone 12 uses the older A14 Bionic with a 4-core GPU and 4 GB of RAM.

Is the battery life better on the iPhone 14 Plus compared to the iPhone 12?
Yes, the iPhone 14 Plus includes a ~4325 mAh battery capable of up to 26 hours of video playback, while the iPhone 12 has a smaller ~2815 mAh battery with up to 17 hours of video playback.

Do both models support 5G connectivity?
Yes, both the iPhone 14 Plus and iPhone 12 support 5G networks, but the iPhone 14 Plus uses a more efficient Qualcomm X65 modem, while the iPhone 12 uses the older X55 modem.

Are the cameras the same on iPhone 14 Plus and iPhone 12?
Both have dual 12 MP rear cameras, but the iPhone 14 Plus features Photonic Engine, Cinematic Mode, Action Mode, and autofocus on the front camera, while the iPhone 12 lacks these enhancements.

Does the iPhone 14 Plus take better selfies than the iPhone 12?
Yes, the iPhone 14 Plus front camera has autofocus for sharper selfies and group shots, whereas the iPhone 12 front camera is fixed focus.

Do both iPhone 14 Plus and iPhone 12 support MagSafe?
Yes, both devices support MagSafe, allowing users to attach magnetic accessories and charge wirelessly with MagSafe-compatible chargers.

What safety features are exclusive to the iPhone 14 Plus?
The iPhone 14 Plus has Crash Detection and Emergency SOS via Satellite, features not available on the iPhone 12, giving it an advantage in emergency situations.

Do both phones support wireless charging?
Yes, both the iPhone 14 Plus and iPhone 12 support Qi wireless charging, making them compatible with a wide range of wireless chargers.

Is there a difference in storage options between the two models?
Yes, the iPhone 14 Plus starts at 128 GB and goes up to 512 GB, while the iPhone 12 starts at only 64 GB and is limited to 256 GB maximum.

Do both phones have the same water resistance rating?
Yes, both the iPhone 14 Plus and iPhone 12 are rated IP68, meaning they can survive submersion in up to 6 meters of water for 30 minutes.

Do both phones support Face ID?
Yes, both models use Apple’s Face ID system for secure unlocking and Apple Pay, though the iPhone 14 Plus has a slightly smaller notch design compared to the iPhone 12.

Which phone is heavier, iPhone 14 Plus or iPhone 12?
The iPhone 14 Plus weighs 203 grams, making it heavier due to its larger size and bigger battery, while the iPhone 12 is lighter at 164 grams.

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